Fixing arrangement with damping for a device which is protected from vibration

Abstract

A fixing arrangement with damping for fixing a device (1) to be protected from vibration, which device includes at least one mounting portion via which the device is fixed to a portion of a support (2) by fastening means (3, 4). The arrangement includes at least two piezoelectric elements (5, 6), each of which has its electrodes electrically shunted by an individual or shared impedance of determined structure. At least one of the elements (5) is used in bending and is interposed between a portion of the support and a mounting portion of the device to be protected. At least one of the elements (6) is used in compression and is interposed between one of the fastening means and either the support portion or the mounting portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fixing arrangement with damping for fixing a device to be protected from vibration, the device which includes at least one "mounting" portion via which the device is fixed to a portion of a support by a nut-and-bolt fastening mechanism, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of which has its electrodes electrically shunted by either one of an individual and a shared impedance of determined structure, with at least one of the piezoelectric elements being used in bending and being interposed at a nut end of said nut-and-bolt fastening mechanism directly between a portion of the support and a mounting portion of determined dimensions, of the device to be protected, and at least another one of the piezoelectric elements being used in compression and being interposed between a bolt end of said nut-and-bolt fastening mechanism and the support portion.   
     
     
       2. A fixing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one of the piezoelectric elements used in bending is implemented in a form of a plate that is dimensioned and positioned so as to extend beyond at least the portion against which it is secured, namely either one of the mounting portion and the support portion. 
     
     
       3. A fixing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said piezoelectric elements used in compression is implemented in a form of a washer positioned between either one of a support portion and a mounting portion and said nut-and-bolt fastening mechanism for fastening the mounting portion to the support portion, said washer being mounted around a stem serving as a clamping intermediary included in either one of the fastening mechanism and in additional fastening mechanisms. 
     
     
       4. A fixing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the nut-and-bolt mechanism includes at least one bolt stem which passes both through a piezoelectric element of either one of a washer type and stack of washers type, and through a piezoelectric element of a plate type, provided with a through opening for receiving each said bolt, and a nut which is screwed onto said bolt to fix said device. 
     
     
       5. A fixing arrangement with damping for fixing a device to be protected from vibration, the device which includes at least one "mounting" portion via which the device is fixed to a portion of a support by fastening means, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of which has its electrodes electrically shunted by either one of an individual and a shared impedance of determined structure, with at least one of the piezoelectric elements being used in bending and being interposed between a portion of the support and a mounting portion of determined dimensions, of the device to be protected, and at least another one of the piezoelectric elements being used in compression and being interposed between one of the fastening means and either one of the support portion and the mounting portion;   wherein said plurality of piezoelectric elements used in bending forms a stack of plates, a first one of the plates being secured against either one of a mounting portion and a support portion, said stack being dimensioned and positioned so as to extend beyond one of the mounting portion and the support portion against which the first plate of the stack is secured.   
     
     
       6. A fixing arrangement with damping for fixing a device to be protected from vibration, the device which includes at least one "mounting" portion via which the device is fixed to a portion of a support by fastening means, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of which has its electrodes electrically shunted by either one of an individual and a shared impedance of determined structure, with at least one of the piezoelectric elements being used in bending and being interposed between a portion of the support and a mounting portion of determined dimensions, of the device to be protected, and at least another one of the piezoelectric elements being used in compression and being interposed between one of the fastening means and either one of the support portion and the mounting portion;   wherein at least one of said piezoelectric elements used in compression is implemented in the form of a stack of washers positioned between either one of a support portion and a mounting portion and the fastening means for fastening the mounting portion to the support portion, said stack being mounted around a stem serving as a clamping intermediary included in either one of the fastening means and in additional fastening means.